Automatic expanding machine



May 21, 1935. G. w. CHALMERS 2,001,867

AUTOMATIC EXPANDING MACHINE Filed July 29, 19 33 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 v 0 w 3 w w 9 May 21, 1935. G. w. CHALMERS AUTOMATIC EXPANDING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Q/Lfia/meza o ye M M May 21, 1935. G. ,w. CHALMERS AUTOMATIC EXPANDING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 5? 42M Ami a May 21 1935. G. w. CHALMERS Filed July 29, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WWI? h UN w Patented May 21, 1935 AUTOMATIC PATENT other:

2,091,867 I EXPANDING MACHINE George w. Chalmers Summit, 111,, assignor to International Patents Development Company, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delaware H Application July 29, 1933, Serial No. 682,839

4 Claims. (o1.113 '1s) .Thisjnvention relates to improvements in eX- panding; machinedadapted to attach together two cup-shaped sheet metal bodies by expanding the vertical walls ment. Y

The invention isconcerned particularly in the provision of improvements whereby machines of the abovecharacter may be used to an advantage in attachingpouringspout structures to cans. In this connection, theinvention contemplates as one of its objects the provision of improved and simplified means for supporting 'aplurality of expanding. tools above the can receiving table of the machine so as to rotate therewith and to permit simultaneous vertical adjustment of said tools with relation .to the table.

-Another object is to provide improved means for insuring proper positioning of the can and spout beneath the expanding tool and also for positioning the said spout relative to the'can.

The invention is illustrated in. a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, where- Fig. 1 is a side view partly in section of an apparatus constructed inaccordance with my invention.

.7 Fig; 2;is a plan view of thestructure shown in Fig: 1 with parts of the upper portion of the machine broken away for the purpose of illustrating underlying parts; 1

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken through th machine on line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the mechanism for feeding the cans onto a rotating table of the machine. i a

Fig. 5 is an enlargedsectional view of a sectional expanding die'which surrounds the lower portion of a plunger adapted to expand the die sections, the said parts being illustrated as positioned in a spout structure ready toexpand the walls of the spout .into locking engagement with the walls of a dished shape closure member.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentarysectional View of the lower portion of the structure sshown in Fig. 5; but illustrating the die sections and plunger in their final operative positions.

Fig. 7 is aview in perspective of one of the sectional die members, and' i a Fig.8 is a fragmentary side view of the outer endof. a conveyor shown in-Fig. 1.

- ;,The'invention.is illustrated in connection with thereof into interlocking engageed to rotate above a supporting base I20.

surrounding the filling opening in the top of the can. The pouring spout herein shown is formed with a cup-shaped portion I I4 and a lip I I5; 'I-he cup portion of the spout structure is adapted to seat within'the dished closure member III. The vertical walls of the spout structure and the dished closure member are expanded to oifset them as shown at IIB-I I'I respectively in Fig. 6 to form interlocking ribs which secure the spout structure firmly in the closure member H I. When the contents of the can is to be used, holes are punched in the closure member HI opposite the holes lL8-| [8 formed in the bottom of the spout structure. a

The machine herein shown for fixing pouring spouts on the cans comprises a table H9 mount- The table preferably consists of a-plate-l2l secured to the upper face of a gear I22 the latter of which is provided with a hollow hub I23 which is journaled in a suitable bearing in the upper portion of the supporting base I20. I24 designates a centrally disposed tubular shaft to which are fixed spider members I25 and I26. A'n arm I21 is secured to the tubular shaft and carries at its outer end a pin I28 which is slidably fitted in an opening I29 in the" rotating table H9. Said arm and pin provides a connection whereby the table H9 and the spiders I25I26 will rotate in unilson. This connection also-permits the said spiders and said tubular shaft to be adjusted vertically with relation to the table I I9 to accommodate cahs of different heights. The said vertical adjustment of the tubular shaft'a'nd the spiders; I25-I26 isaccomplished by means of a central shaft I30 provided at its upper end with a spider I3I and formed at its lower end with a threaded portion I32". A bevel gear i33 is journaled in a crossme'mber I34 and is form'ed with an internally threaded hub" which receivesthe threaded portion I32 of the shaft I30. A bevel pinion I35 meshes with the gear I33 and'is rotated toraise or lower the shaft I30 by means of a crank I36 on the shaft I3 'I'. The shaft I30 is held from rotating by means of an arm I38 clamped-to the shaft I35 and extending through slot I39 in the supportingbasa Thelsaid'clamp arm I38 serves also as a support for therotatable tubular shaft I 24. A thrust washer HE is preferably interposed between theflowrend of the tubular shaft and'the said clamp arm.

The spider I 25 is formed adjacentlits outer edge with a plurality of bearings I for supporting and guiding the portion or a P1111 rality of ek'pandhigtools I42. 'These tools are preferably of identical construction. It will be suflicient therefore to describe but one of them in detail. Each expanding tool' consists of a die carrier M3 which is slidably supported in one of the bearings I 4|, the said carrier being formed at its upper end with a shoulder adapted to seat on the spider I25 to limit downward movement of the carrier and thereby prevent the expanding tool from pressing downwardly on the closure member of the can. The carrier is of cylindrical form and is provided at its lower end with an internal groove I54 which forms a supporting ledge for a plurality of pendant die members I45. The pendant die sections are formed with rounded ribs Me adapted to be inserted in the groove M4 to provide a pivotal connection with the die carrier. There is sufiicient clearance between the upper portions of the die sections to permit them to be assembled in the groove Hi l. Each die section is formed with a wedge surface I 4! and with an external arcuate rib M8, the latter of which is pressed into the metal of the spout and closure members when the die sections are forced outwardly from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the, position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The said pendant die members areheld in their retracted position by means of a spring I49 which seats in external grooves I50 formed in the die sections. Ihe pendant die sections are forced outwardly by the conical lower'end of avertically movable plunger E55. The plunger extends through the central part of the die. carrier M3 so that its lower end is guided by this member. The upper portion of the plunger is guided in one of the bearings. I52 formed on the spider l2t. Preferably the plunger is held against rotation in said hearing by means of a stop pin I53 which projects into a longitudinally extending slot I5 5 formed in the plunger. The said plunger is also provided with a longitudinal slot I55, near its lower end which receives a stop screw I55 which extends through the upper portion of the die carrier hi3. This stop screw and slot, it will be noted, provides a lost motion connection between theplunger I57 and the die carrier 543. VA coiled springv i51 surrounds the plunger and is interposed between the upper portion of thewdie carrier I43 and a collar I58 secured to the plunger so that the die carrier M3 is held against the spider I25 by spring pressure when the pendant dies reach lowermost position. When the dies reach such position they are supported by, the spider I25 while the plunger I51 continues its, downward movement to force the pendant dies outwardly. The upper end of the plunger is provided with a clevis for a roller. I59. A roller I68 is secured to the outer face of the clevis and bears on a trackway I6I, The trackway extends around approximately one-third of the machine and is suspended from the top spider I3! by means of angles I62. 'Spacing blocks I63 are interposed between the angles I62 and the trackway. One end of the trackway is formed'with a downwardly inclined portion lat at a location which permits the plunger I5! to be lowered by gravity sufficiently to extend the pendant dies into the cup-shaped portion of the pouring spout structure. A fixed cam member IE4 is supported from the upper spider I3I at a location to engage the roller I59 of the plunger mechanism when the plungers of the machine are rotated past the said cam member.

H The table H9 and spiders I25-I26 are rotated by means ofa pinion I65 mounted ona vertical shaft I66 and meshing with the large gear I22. This shaft is mounted to rotate in a suitable bearing I 67 on the base member. The lower portion of shaft I66 carries a bevel gear I68 which meshes with bevel gear 669 on a horizontal shaft I10, the latter of which is driven by means of a sprocket and chain connection I'll with an electric motor H2.

The cans, together with the pouring spout loosely positioned thereon,'are moved onto the rotating table by means of a chain conveyor I13 and a forwarding wheel Hi. The conveyor consists preferably of stationary guide members I15II6 anda chain I T5 the latter of which is provided with spaced lugs I18 theron and which move the cans toward the machine in spaced relation to each other. At or near the end of the conveyor chain the cans are engaged by the extremities of arms I79 of the forwarding wheel H 1 and moved onto the table into a position whereby the cup-shaped portion of the pouring spout structure will be directly beneath one of the expanding tools.

In order to insure proper positioning of the cans on the table, provision is made for adjusting the position of the forwarding wheel with relation to the expanding tools. The hub I80 of the wheel is mounted loosely on the shaft I 8|. A head E82, fixed on the upper end of the shaft I8 I, is provided on its under side with a recess I83 adapted to receive a lug I84 which projects upwardly from the forwarding wheel. Adjusting screws I85 extend through the member I32 and engage the lug I84 to hold the wheel in any desired adjusted position.

When the spout structures are initially placed on the cans they are preferably positioned substantially at the angle indicated at A in Fig. 4 of the drawings. As the cans are fed onto the rotating table of the machine the end portion of the pouring spout lip is engaged by a fixed cam member I38 which is secured to the outer member of the conveyor guide. This rubbing engagement of the spout against the cam member insures proper alignment of the spout structure with relation to the corner of the can before the spout structure is fixed rigidly to the can. While the cans are rounding the curved portion of the outer guide member they are supported on their inner sides by means of a disk portion I 87 of the forwarding wheel and a fixed guide member I 83. V

In order to accommodate cans of diiferent Widths, the said disk I8? is removably attached to the forwarding wheel I89 so that larger or smaller disks may be applied to the forwarding wheel when desired. If desired, the larger disks may be applied to the wheel without removing the smaller disk. In Fig, 4 the large disk I8! is provided with a central opening I89 whereby it may be applied above the smaller disk I50 without removing the head member I82. The guide member I88 is adjustably supported on a vertically disposed member ISI. The latter member, in addition to providing a suitable support for the guide member I88, is secured at its upper end to the fixed cam member I64 and thereby provides additional support for said cam.

The cans are discharged from the rotating table by means of arms I19 of a forwarding whee1 I'Ul secured to a vertical shaft IBI This forwarding wheel is of the same construction as the forwarding wheel I14 and operates to engage the cans successively and slide them from the rotating table onto a conveyor I 92, which carries them to a suitable location where they may be packed into crates or other suitable containers, The forwarding wheels I14--I14 and the conveyors I13--I92 are operated from driving connections with the large gear I22 of the rotating table. This driving connection consists of pinions I93--I94 secured to the vertical shafts of the forwarding wheels and-meshing with the large gear I22. Thevertical shaft IBI of the forwarding wheel I1 t is provided with a bevel gear I96 which meshes with bevel gear I91 on a horizontal shaft I98. The shaft I98 carries spiral pinions I99-200 which mesh with spiral gears 29 I-2ll2 respectively, fixed to the horizontal shafts 203-264 of the driving sprockets of the said conveyors.

In operation the cans together with the pouring spout structures are placed upon the feeding conveyor whereupon they are moved forward by the conveyor chain I13. When they are passed through the forwarding wheel I14 the spouts of the cans are engaged by the fixed cam member I88, thereby moving the spouts into their proper positions. This movement of the cans brings the cup portion of the successive spout structure beneath one of the expanding tools at a location immediately prior to the movement of such tool off the inclined portion I63 of the trackway IEI. This downward movement of the expanding tool moves the pendant dies into the spout structure of the can. The pendant dies are held in this position by the pressure of the coiled springs I51 while the plunger I51 is given a further downward movement by means of the cam -member I64. As soon as a spout structure has been expanded into rigid engagement with a can, the

roller I59 of the operated expanding tool moves from beneath the cam I64, whereupon the spring I51 will cause the plunger- I51 of such tool to move upwardly to substantially the position shown in Fig. 5. Further rotation of the table and expanding tools brings the rollers I60 of the several expanding tools onto the inclined end portion I63 of the trackway ISI thereby raising the plungers I51 and permitting the spring I49 to retract the die sections so as to permit them to be withdrawn from the spout structure. The pendant dies are withdrawn from the spout structure by reason of the lost motion connection of the die carrier I43 with the plunger I51. For example, the first upward movement of the plunger I51 on the inclined portion I63 of the trackway I5I permits the pendant dies to retract. Furthe'r upward movement brings the lower portion of the slot I55 in the plunger against the stop screw I56 thereby causing the die carrier and pendant dies to move upwardly with the plunger I51 during any further upward movement thereof. This movement withdraws the pendant dies from the spout structure so as to permit the cans to be removed from the rotating table when they reach a position adjacent the forwarding wheel I14 The arms of said wheel engage the cans successively and slide them onto the discharge conveyor I92.

I claim: A

1. Apparatus for attaching pouring spouts to cans comprising in combination, a revoluble table, a plurality of expanding tools arranged in spaced relation above said table, a centrally disposed shaft, a tubular shaft rotatable on the central shaft, means on the tubular shaft for supporting said expanding tools, means on the tubular shaft and slidably engaging the table for connecting said tubularshaft with the revoluble table, means on the central shaft for raising and lowering the expanding tools, means for holding said central shaft against rotation, and means for vertically adjusting the central and tubularshafts relative to said table.

2. Apparatus for attaching pouring spouts to cans comprising in combination, a revoluble table, a plurality of expanding tools arranged in spaced relation above said table, a central shaft, a tubular shaft rotatably supported on the central shaft, means on the tubular shaft for supporting said expanding tools, means comprising an arm onthe tubular shafthaving a vertically slidable connection with the table, whereby the tubular shaft and expanding tools will rotate in unison with the said table but with capacity for vertical movement of said shaft with relation to said table, means on the central shaft for operating said expanding tools, and means for vertically adjusting said shafts and expanding tools relative to said table to accommodate cans of different height.

3. Apparatus for attaching pouring spouts to cans comprising in combination, a revoluble, table, a plurality of expanding tools arranged in spaced relation above said table, a central shaft the lower end of which is formed with screw threads, a tubular shaft rotatably supported on the central shaft, means on the tubular shaft for supporting said expanding tools, means comprising an arm on the tubular shaft having a vertically slidable connection with the table whereby the tubular shaft and expanding tools will rotate in unison with said table but with capacity for vertical movement of said shaft with relation to said table, means on the central shaft for operating said expanding tools, and means for vertically adjusting said shafts and expanding tools relative to said table comprising a nut on the threaded portion of the central shaft, and means for holding the central shaft against rotation whereby rotation of said nut imparts vertical movement to said central and tubular shafts.

4. A machine for securing spout structures to sheet metal cans comprising in combination, a revoluble table for receiving successive cans on which the spout structures are loosely supported, expanding tools movable with said table and adapted to be raised and lowered relative to said cans, forwarding means for moving successive cans onto said table and positioning them beneath said expanding tools, and spout adjusting means positioned to engage said spout structures during the movement of the cans onto said table, to rotate said spout structures into predetermined angular positions on the cans.

GEORGE W. CHALMERS. 

